TY - JOUR

T1 - Knowledge attainment, learning approaches, and self-perceived study burnout among European veterinary students

AU - Iivanainen, Antti

AU - Collares, Carlos Fernando

AU - Wandall, Jakob

AU - Parpala, Anna

AU - Nevgi, Anne

AU - Keto-Timonen, Riikka

AU - Tipold, Andrea

AU - Schaper, Elisabeth

AU - van Haeften, Theo

AU - Pihl, Tina Holberg

AU - Press, Charles McLean

AU - Holm, Peter

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Introduction: This study investigates the relationship between approaches to learning, self-perceived study burnout, and the level of knowledge among veterinary students. Veterinary educational programs are under regular development and would benefit greatly from detailed feedback on students' knowledge, proficiency, influencing factors, and coping mechanisms.Methods: The VetRepos consortium developed and calibrated an item repository testing knowledge across the entire veterinary curriculum. Two hundred forty-eight students from seven European veterinary institutions took the VetRepos test, comprising a subset of the repository. They also responded to a questionnaire assessing deep and unreflective learning approaches and self-perceived study burnout, represented by exhaustion and cynicism. Structural equation modeling analyzed the relationship between these latent traits and the VetRepos test score.Results: The model failed the exact-fit test but was retained based on global fit indices, inter-item residual correlations, and standardized residual covariances. Root Mean Square Error of Approximation with robust standard errors and scaled test statistic was 0.049 (95% confidence interval 0.033–0.071), scaled and robust Comparative Fit Index 0.95 (0.90–0.98), and scaled Standardized Root Mean Square Residual 0.056 (0.049–0.071). Measurement invariance across study years was not violated (ΔCFI = 0.00, χ2 = 3.78, Δdf = 4, p = 0.44), but it could not be confirmed between genders or universities. The VetRepos test score regressed on the study year [standardized regression coefficient = 0.68 (0.62–0.73)], showed a negative regression on the unreflective learning approach [−0.25 (−0.47 to −0.03)], and a positive regression on the deep approach [0.16 (0.03–0.28)]. No direct association with perceived burnout was observed; however, a significant, medium-sized association was found between the unreflective approach and self-perceived study burnout. No significant differences in learning approaches or perceived burnout were found between study years.Discussion: The most important source of variance in VetRepos test scores, unrelated to the study year, was the learning approach. The association between the VetRepos test score and self-perceived burnout was indirect. Future research should complement this cross-sectional approach with longitudinal and person-oriented studies, further investigating the relationship between study burnout and learning approaches.

AB - Introduction: This study investigates the relationship between approaches to learning, self-perceived study burnout, and the level of knowledge among veterinary students. Veterinary educational programs are under regular development and would benefit greatly from detailed feedback on students' knowledge, proficiency, influencing factors, and coping mechanisms.Methods: The VetRepos consortium developed and calibrated an item repository testing knowledge across the entire veterinary curriculum. Two hundred forty-eight students from seven European veterinary institutions took the VetRepos test, comprising a subset of the repository. They also responded to a questionnaire assessing deep and unreflective learning approaches and self-perceived study burnout, represented by exhaustion and cynicism. Structural equation modeling analyzed the relationship between these latent traits and the VetRepos test score.Results: The model failed the exact-fit test but was retained based on global fit indices, inter-item residual correlations, and standardized residual covariances. Root Mean Square Error of Approximation with robust standard errors and scaled test statistic was 0.049 (95% confidence interval 0.033–0.071), scaled and robust Comparative Fit Index 0.95 (0.90–0.98), and scaled Standardized Root Mean Square Residual 0.056 (0.049–0.071). Measurement invariance across study years was not violated (ΔCFI = 0.00, χ2 = 3.78, Δdf = 4, p = 0.44), but it could not be confirmed between genders or universities. The VetRepos test score regressed on the study year [standardized regression coefficient = 0.68 (0.62–0.73)], showed a negative regression on the unreflective learning approach [−0.25 (−0.47 to −0.03)], and a positive regression on the deep approach [0.16 (0.03–0.28)]. No direct association with perceived burnout was observed; however, a significant, medium-sized association was found between the unreflective approach and self-perceived study burnout. No significant differences in learning approaches or perceived burnout were found between study years.Discussion: The most important source of variance in VetRepos test scores, unrelated to the study year, was the learning approach. The association between the VetRepos test score and self-perceived burnout was indirect. Future research should complement this cross-sectional approach with longitudinal and person-oriented studies, further investigating the relationship between study burnout and learning approaches.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - knowledge assessment

KW - Structural Equation Modeling

KW - Item response theory (IRT)

KW - veterinary medical education

KW - learning approaches

KW - study burnout

U2 - 10.3389/fvets.2024.1292750

DO - 10.3389/fvets.2024.1292750

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

JO - Frontiers in Veterinary Science

JF - Frontiers in Veterinary Science

SN - 2297-1769

M1 - :1292750

ER -